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The mornings at the mansion were nice.
The cold wind was blocked out by the wood walls and the fireplace with its lively fire.
The silence of the mansion was only disturbed by the sizzling of bacon from the kitchen.
You were sitting at the large wooden table that was located near the cooking area.
The head of the house himself was the one preparing breakfast. He wore proudly the pink apron that Sally gave to him as a gift.
You suspected that Jeff had suggested the colour, like some sort of prank or to get a reaction out of the "patriarch", but he didn't count for Slender's soft spot for Sally.
Plus, it looked very good on him.
"Thank you, dear." A voice echoed in your head.
Oh right, he could read minds.
Silly that you can forget that.
"You are highly amusing."
"Glad to be entertaining, or are all humans fun to watch?" You teased.
"I must say, of all the humans I've seen, you are the most interesting."
You blushed. For Slender that was a top-tear compliment!
A very tired yawn broke the peaceful silence.
Jeff dragged his feet toward the dinner table, looking more like a zombie than usual.
"Morning Jeff." You greeted. His answer was a grunt as he got into his chair and let his head fall on the table.
"Teenagers." You could hear Slender sigh.
"Remind me to never go out drinking with LJ again." The teen groaned.
"We always do Jeff," Slenderman pointed out.
"And you promptly ignore us." You concluded with your best parent voice.
He flipped both of you off before flinching, grabbing his head. A private scolding from Slenderman you supposed.
"Watch your language, there are kids here." the elegant cryptid scolded, which meant that Sally had most likely woken up.
As if to prove you right, the small ball of sunshine came bouncing down the stairs. In a blur, she was hugging Slenderman's leg while holding her teddy bear with her other hand.
"DADDY!"
One of the hands of the tall not-a-man went down to comb her hair "Good morning to you too Sally."
Their relationship always warmed your heart. The little girl deserved to have a family, someone that loved her and Slender needed someone that chased away the loneliness he felt in his long life.
"Zaza!" Your heart melted as Sally ran to you with the gender-neutral nickname that you chose together. The mere thought that she perceived you as a parental figure was enough to make your heart swell.
Her hugs felt like getting a hug from the sunshine itself.
She turned toward Jeff and whispered a good morning, receiving a soft grunt in response.
"I'll say "hi" better when he wakes up." Sally was definitely too adorable for her own good.
"Breakfast is ready," Slenderman called before placing a plate in front of each of you.
Sally smiled brightly at her food "Daddy, you always know what I want for breakfast! How do you do that?"
"It's magic, little one." He answered, nuzzling her head.
As if he couldn't read minds.
"We can't ruin the magic for Sally, love."
That's true.
The fact that he could choose who heard him was once again very useful.
"Any plans for today?" You asked the small group. The home sure felt empty without the others, but they were busy away from the mansion.
"Any plans for today?" You asked the table, both to fill the silence and out of genuine interest.
"Sleep." Jeff grunted. Understandable to be honest.
"I... maybe will see Ben to play together. If he's up for it." The fact that you got used to seeing a little elf, crawl out of the television like something out of "The Ring" should worry you.
"I'll have to check the East area. That deer is going to give birth any day now." Once again, the pale being took his role of Guardian of the Forest very seriously.
That left you to do your things.
As you finished cleaning the plates used for breakfast, you heard a voice echoing in your head.
"I do not understand." You turned to see Slenderman in the doorway, one of his large hands was on the wall "I don't understand you."
You got closer to your immortal lover "What do you mean?"
"One of your humans' skills. Your... adaptability. Something fascinating that makes me think. Of Sally and Ben, how they adapted to their... new situation. Of you, how you got used to living in the middle of the woods, used to living with us... used to me, something that your brain should recognize as terrifying and inhuman. Yet, you manage to love me."
You caressed one of his long arms "You said it yourself, I'm a special human."
He leaned down, placing his forehead against yours, a sound similar to the rumble of thunder that he refused to call a purr emanating from his chest.
"Very special indeed."